Safety evaluation of the entomopathogenic bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus for the green lacewing Chrysoperla agilis (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Insecticidal potential of Brevibacillus laterosporus against dipteran pest species in a wide ecological range

“…Among the putative virulence factors are a variety of enzymes including chitinases and proteases, homologous Cry proteins, polyketides, and nonribosomal peptides (Marche et al, 2018). These molecules are implicated in midgut epithelium degeneration, following ingestion of bacterial spores (Ruiu et al, 2012). Although the involvement of specific bacterial compounds against certain targets has been documented, the insecticidal action appears to be complex and is not fully understood.…”

“…Within a complex insecticidal mechanism of action, an important role is played by certain enzymes (i.e., chitinases, proteases) (Marche et al, 2018), Cry toxin homologues (Bowen et al, 2017), sporeassociated proteins (Marche et al, 2017), polyketides, nonribosomal peptides, and other putative toxins (Djukic et al, 2011). Normally, after ingesting bacterial spores, the insect undergoes progressive midgut epithelium deterioration, followed by paralysis and death (Ruiu et al, 2012). Although there are differences between B. laterosporus strains, the target range includes pests in the orders Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera (Ruiu, 2013).…”

“…On the other hand, this bacterium has been observed to have no detrimental activity against certain hymenopteran species like parasitic wasps (Ruiu et al, 2007a) or the honeybee with which it has an endosymbiotic relationship (Marche et al, 2016). A lack of significant toxicity was also observed against chrysopids (Ruiu et al, 2020). The insecticidal activity so far found against dipterans includes some species of mosquitoes and muscoid flies (Pereira et al, 2018;Zubasheva et al, 2010).…”

Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) against Insects and Other Agricultural Pests

“…The generally recognized safety for nontarget insects, including honeybees [26], hymenopteran parasitoids [27], and lacewings [28], makes this species particularly promising as a biocontrol agent.…”

Cry75Aa (Mpp75Aa) Insecticidal Proteins for Controlling the Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Isolated from the Insect-Pathogenic Bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus

“… B. laterosporus is ubiquitous and has been isolated from different environmental sources around the world and from a wide range of materials, including various soil samples, fresh- and seawater, insects and other animals, leaf surfaces, and many types of food material ( 19 , 20 ). B. laterosporus strains have been shown to be insecticidal against some Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera insect pests ( 19 , 21 , 22 ), and in the only two reports that evaluated B. laterosporus against insects outside these three orders, Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera), and Chrysoperla agilis (Neuroptera) ( 23 , 24 ), no or only slight toxicity was observed. Most of the studies on insecticidal spectrum or host range have relied on testing crude fractions or preparations containing viable B. laterosporus cells, making it difficult to understand specific components or factors contributing to toxicity and virulence.…”